Upland Brewing Company Investing $3 Million To Expand Capacity

BLOOMINGTON, IN –Upland Brewing Company has acquired a 47,000 square foot building near downtown Bloomington and begun applying for regulatory approval to re-locate its production brewery to the new site by January 2012.

The 1.8-acre location at 301 West Grimes Lane sits directly adjacent to the City’s B-Line Trail and the railroad switchyard targeted for a new city park. The company’s Tap Room restaurant will remain at the current 11th Street site, where a smaller pilot brewing system will be installed to develop new specialty beers.

Upland will spend $1.5 million to acquire and renovate the building and another $1.5 million over the next 3-5 years to expand and upgrade brewing, fermentation and packaging equipment. As a result of the investments, brewing capacity will more than double from 11,000 to 25,000 barrels (a brewer’s barrel is equivalent to 31 gallons). The company is also prepared to increase and accelerate its investment to beautify the building and site and is seeking economic development assistance from the City for infrastructure costs required for basic brewery operations in order to do so.

“Upland sales have tripled in the past five years, and this rate of growth has been possible because we have re-invested all profits back into the business, maintained modest salaries (thanks to a staff that is more passionate about quality beer than big paychecks), and squeezed capacity out of our original facilities and equipment in a ‘scrappy’ fashion,” said President Doug Dayhoff. “However, Indiana’s craft beer sales still lag neighboring Wisconsin and Michigan by many multiples, so it’s great to see new breweries opening and helping to encourage consumers to be thoughtful about drinking locally brewed beers and eating locally grown foods.”

On Wednesday, August 3rd, 5:00 — 7:00, Upland will host an open house at the new facility for the public to see the space and review drawings and site plans.

QUOTES FROM DOUG DAYHOFF, UPLAND’S PRESIDENT:

“Upland was a pioneer business in the historic Showers Factory neighborhood 13 years ago, and we’re excited to be a pioneer again along the new B-Line corridor. Hopefully we’ll see a rapid change in the properties adjacent to the trail and an explosion in use of the trail for recreation and commuting — our brewery tours are filled with dozens of tourists every weekend, so we can help draw those people south of downtown too.”

“Compared to the large, multinational corporate beer companies, we think we have a very good track record of producing quality, hand-crafted, flavorful beers that are enjoyed responsibly, and of giving back to our communities, including over $40,000 annually in donations to Indiana’s land trust conservation movement, music and arts, and other non-profit organizations.”

QUOTES FROM CALEB STATON, UPLAND’S HEAD BREWER:

“We have experienced steady growth over the past five years, and the writing was on the wall when the last tank we installed stuck out of the roof by four feet. The decision to move the main brewery to a larger site will enable Upland to grow three fold over the next decade in a comfortable manner, with room to add more equipment, stock and organize more inventory, and install fancy lockers for employees’ brewing boots.”

“The renovations and installation of a smaller pilot brewing system at our original location will give the brewing staff the ability to try out new recipes in small batches for our test market, which has always been right on the other side of the Upland bar. That direct feedback influenced what we brew today, and will continue to help figure out what new beers are developed for our fellow Hoosiers in the future.”

QUOTE FROM WADE SHANOWER, PRESIDENT, BIG RED LIQUORS:

“Big Red was Upland’s first wholesale customer, and our sales of their beers have grown every year since. This growth has come about due to the dedication of their staff to making high quality craft beers that lead the way in Indiana. We are excited that they are making a further significant investment in their Bloomington facilities which will benefit the community for many years to come.”

QUOTE FROM MARK KRUZAN, MAYOR, CITY OF BLOOMINGTON:

“This business decision to expand brewery operations in this location is the first tangible sign that the City’s efforts to transform the former rail switchyard into our community’s central park will not only produce an unparalleled recreational amenity for our citizens but will also absolutely spur new economic development activity in the area. It’s never easy for the trailblazer, but their success will be the community’s success and so I am thrilled to be working with this homegrown local business to see how the City can help in its growth.”

QUOTE FROM DANISE ALANO-MARTIN, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF BLOOMINGTON:

“Upland’s brewery expansion in the former RCA Thomson warehouse will continue the tradition of industrial activity at the site, but will also add a new and exciting cultural dimension, one that builds upon the bustle of the B-Line Trail. Without a doubt it will be a catalyst project, a head start on realizing a new community vision in the area. “